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Dutch authorities try to tempt out animals, which dig setts under quiet and raised train embankments

Leaves on the tracks, signal failures and strikes can all cause train delay headaches, but commuters in the Netherlands are facing railway havoc caused by badgers burrowing under the lines, with authorities struggling to tempt the protected animals out.

In the densely populated country, there is limited natural space for the country’s 7,000 badgers. They often dig out their homes, or setts, under relatively “quiet” train embankments, which are ideally situated away from people and also slightly raised, which prevents the sett from flooding.

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World Bank among those urging levy to fund climate action in developing world and encourage fleets to upgrade

Pressure is growing on the international shipping industry to accept a carbon levy on ships that would fund climate action in the developing world, with the World Bank among those pushing for the measure at a crucial international meeting this week, the Guardian has learned.

A levy on the greenhouse gas emissions produced from shipping would encourage companies to upgrade their fleets, run them more efficiently and seek cleaner fuels and technologies.

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European benchmark carbon prices gyrated around the key €90 level for most of Wednesday morning as traders eyed the expiry of the March options contract early in the afternoon, though some weakness was seen after exchange data showed a sharp reduction in investment funds' long positioning last week.

The voluntary market for biodiversity credits is emerging on the back of increased pressure on corporations to report on their impact on nature and set their own targets, but government regulations can help drive demand and ensure a well-functioning market that buyers can trust, according to the Commonwealth Bank.

Funnel of south-westerly winds help push birds towards Irish coast and UK mainland as far north as Scotland

An “unprecedented” influx of alpine swifts has been reported by birdwatchers across Britain and Ireland.

Dozens of these migrating birds, which usually fly thousands of miles from sub-Saharan west Africa to southern Europe to breed at this time of year, have been spotted around the Irish coast as well as in parts of Wales, England and even as far north as Scotland.

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Authors of paper accepted for publication in Harvard Environmental Law Review argue firms are ‘killing members of the public at an accelerating rate’

Oil companies have come under increasing legal scrutiny and face allegations of defrauding investors, racketeering, and a wave of other lawsuits. But a new paper argues there’s another way to hold big oil accountable for climate damage: trying companies for homicide.

The striking and seemingly radical legal theory is laid out in a paper accepted for publication in the Harvard Environmental Law Review. In it, the authors argue fossil fuel companies “have not simply been lying to the public, they have been killing members of the public at an accelerating rate, and prosecutors should bring that crime to the public’s attention”.

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A province holding three-quarters of the peatland in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed a jurisdictional nested REDD+ agreement with a Singapore-headquartered project developer.

The New Zealand government has launched a new review of its emissions trading scheme to figure out if and what changes are needed to encourage business to transition away from fossil fuels and support GHG removals.

A French-headquartered global energy firm has penned a long-term deal to buy up to 11.5 million carbon credits sourced from projects in Cambodia and Bangladesh, which the parties in the deal said was the first major sale of offsets using the Gold Standard’s digital verification methodology.

Despite billions spent on the humanitarian response, Somalia faces another year of drought and hunger. We desperately need money, but it needs to be better spent

In Somalia, we are climate-vulnerable, yet we barely contribute to climate emissions. If we are to cope, we need justice in the form of financing.

We’ve seen droughts, but never six consecutive failed rainy seasons. We’ve known displacement, but never 3 million internally displaced people. We were at the brink of famine in October last year, we narrowly averted it, and we’re facing similar conditions today, with 8.3 million people needing urgent assistance.

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Nasdaq-listed financial services firm StoneX Group has signed an agreement with AirCarbon Exchange (ACX) to create a digital carbon marketplace in the US as part of the StoneX platform, the two companies said on Wednesday.

An Australian investor and philanthropist has launched an initiative designed to bring businesses and NGOs together to advocate the removal of regulatory and policy barriers that block green investment, as environmental groups are being scrutinised for their ties with big business and politics.

Lords committee criticises Ofwat for failing to ensure firms invested enough in sewage network

Water companies have been too focused on maximising financial returns at the expense of the environment, a House of Lords committee has found.

The investigation by peers into the regulation of the privatised water industry found Ofwat, the regulator, had chosen to keep bills low for customers at the expense of investment in the industry, which is now sorely lacking.

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Some species of insect no longer being seen in areas that are becoming drier and hotter

Drought is threatening some British moth species with local extinction, a study has found, as the insects are no longer being seen in areas which are becoming drier and hotter.

The new research, published today by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation and Northumbria University, looked at data gathered over a 40-year period by volunteers of Butterfly Conservation’s National Moth Recording Scheme.

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St Baker family seeks to replicate success of first energy innovation fund with a new $200m vehicle focused on the energy transition and electric mobility.

The post St Baker seeks $200 million in new fund focused on EVs, flying cars and energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Alan Schwartz is investing millions into a group he hopes will bring together business and NGOs.

The post Rich lister to fund lobby group to strengthen climate laws and accelerate transition appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new report warning of "endemic" water scarcity is released ahead of a three-day water summit.

New report finds threat of cyber attacks on Australia's energy industry and infrastructure is rising, particularly as digitisation and 3rd party controls come into play.

The post Data breach: Energy industry is now one of major targets for cyber attack appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Spark Renewables joins forces with Simply Blue Group and Subsea7 to develop floating offshore wind projects in one of Australia's hottest new zones.

The post Spark joins Australian offshore wind rush as part of new consortium appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Not all La Niñas are wet, nor El Niños dry – especially if you live in Sydney. So here’s how to interpret what an El Niño forecast means for you. Carly Tozer, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Nandini Ramesh, Senior Research Scientist, Data61, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.